Exhibition: Challenging stereotypes of Roma, Gypsy & Traveller people

This exhibition is part of a quest for images that respect and celebrate people’s humanity, individuality and agency. Images that work against damaging stereotypes. Images with the power to change attitudes. We invite you to join this quest and share your reactions to a diverse range of pictures, by photographers inside and alongside Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities.

The prejudice experiences by Roma, Gypsy and Traveller people is often called the last acceptable form of racism. So how do we challenge such stereotypes? What alternatives are there? A research project led by academics at the University of Portsmouth and Open University sets out to uncover what alternatives there are to common and damaging stereotypes, with a particular focus on a group that has been mired in negative stereotypes for centuries: Roma, Gypsy and Traveller people. The researchers have spent years working with and living with Roma people and have gathered many images of everyday lives that show a different side to these people than the prominent stereotypes. They have also been gathering examples of anti-stereotype campaigns and projects led by Roma, Gypsy and Traveller people across Europe. The results show that to break down stereotypes we need engagement – thinking of people not just as ‘others’ but as ‘ourselves’ - looking at how we connect with each other, our shared histories, identities and experiences. A public exhibition held in the Portsmouth Guildhall in conjunction with teaching sessions for undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Universities of Portsmouth, Brighton and Southampton provides an exciting opportunity to engage with this research and think about a better future for us all.

These events are part of a project funded by the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust (reference: SG162343), seeking to create a deeper understanding that could lead to more extensive use of alternative ‘non-stereotypical’ images.

The exhibition will open on Thursday November 22nd with a public event between 5-7pm. No need to book just come along!

During the opening event there will be a talk by the exhibition organisers along with the Traveller Movement who will speak of their campaigns to end racism against Roma, Gypsy and Traveller people.

There will also be a screening of the award-winning film Vortex, a rare insight into Roma communities struggling to survive in desperate poverty in Eastern Hungary. Producer: Pál Sándor, filmmakers John Oates and Csaba Szekeres, Hunnia FilmStudio, Budapest.

PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU VISIT OUR EXHIBITIONS AS OPENING TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE 02393 870200.

Discounted parking tickets are available online or at the box office.

Kindly note no flash photography or iPads are allowed, and neither is externally bought drinks or any liquids - only certain food will be allowed. See our House Rules for more info.

All events at Portsmouth Guildhall include a ticket restoration levy. This restoration levy will help us to invest in maintaining and enhancing facilities within our historic Grade II Listed building, ensuring that we continue to deliver the highest quality experience for event goers, artists and promoters. We appreciate your on going support for Portsmouth Guildhall. A restoration levy is effective on all events that go on sale as of March 1st 2016.